In a little rosewood casket
That is resting on a stand
There’s a package of love letters
Written by a cherished hand
Will you please go bring them sister
Read them o’er to me tonight
For Ive often tried but could not
Falling tears would blind my sight

In a little rosewood casket
That is resting on a stand
There’s a package of love letters
Written by my true loves hand

Come up closer to me sister
Let me lean upon your breast
For the tide of life is ebbing
And I fair would be at rest
Bring the letters he has written
He whos voice I’ve often heard
Read them over love distinctly
For I cherish every word

Tell him sister when you see him
That I never ceased to love
That I dying prayed to meet him
In a better world above
Tell him that I was supported
Ne’er a word of censure spoke
But his silence and his absense
This poor heart has well nigh broke

Tell him that I watched his coming
When the noontide sun was high
And at even when the angels set
Their starlights in the sky
But when at last I saw he came not
Tell him that I didn’t chide
But I spoke in love about him
And I blessed him when I died

When at last in deaths white garments
You have wrapped my form around
And you lay me down to slumber
In the quiet church yard ground
Place the letters and the picture
Close beside my pulseless heart
We for years have been together
And in death we will not part

I am ready now dear sister
Read the dear old letters o’er
I will listen as to music
Eve I reach that golden shore
And if ere you have all finished
I should calmly fall asleep
Fall asleep to wake in Heaven
Dearest sister do not weep

On a dark and stormy night
A train rattled on
All the travelers had gone to bed
Except one young man with a babe in his arms
Who sat with a bowed down head

The innocent one began crying just then
As though its poor heart would break
An angry man said make that child stop its noise
For its keeping all of us awake

Put it out said another don’t keep it in here
Weve paid for our berth and our rest
But never a word said the man with the child
As he fondled it close to his breast

Where is its mother go take it to her
This a lady than softly said
I wish that I could was the mans sad reply
But she lies in the coach ahead

While the train rattled on a husband sat in tears
Thinking of the happy days of just a few short years
For baby face brings pictures of a cherished hope thats dead
But baby cries can’t wake her in the baggage coach ahead

Each eye filled up with tears as his story he told
Of a wife who was faithful and true
Of how he had saved all his earnings for years
Just to build up a home for two

How when heaven had sent this sweet little babe
Their young happy wives were blessed
His heart seemed to break
When he mentioned her name
And in tears tried to tell them the rest

Every woman arose to assist with the child
There were mothers and wives on the train
And soon was the little one sleeping in peace
With no thought of sorrow or pain

Next morn at the station he bade all good-bye
God Bless you he gratefully said
Each one had a story to tell their home
Of the baggage coach ahead

We wandered in the shadow of the pines my love and I
As the wind was blowing freshly from the sea
But a sudden fitful darkness stole across the summer sky
And a shadow came between my love and me
Some hasty words were spoken and then almost unawares
Hasty answeres to unthinking anger led
And our heart sick bitter longing and our weeping and our prayers
Ne’re can make those false and cruel words unsaid

Come back to me sweetheart and love me as before
Come back, back to me sweetheart and leave me never more
In lifes dull pathway the sun no longer shines
Come love and meet me in the showdow of the pines

You took the ring I gave you nor cast a glare at me
As you held the jewel’d trinket in your hand
And then you turned and tossed it in the waters of the sea
While the waves were splashing idly on the sand
You went your way unheeding the tears I could not hide
You went your way and not a word was said
But my stubborn heart was breaking underneath its mask of pride
And the pine trees sobbed in pitty o-re head.

I wake from the bitter dreaming but to call aloud your name
I sleep again to dream of you once more
And my stubborn pride has left me I admit I was to blame
Forgive me dear and love me as before
For the future is o’er shadowed with the darkness of despair
In the sky of life love’s sun no longer shines
And I’d give the whole world gladly once again to meet you there
Reunited in the shadow of the pines

I hear a whippoorwill a cryin’
The sun is sinkin to rest
And I sit all alone a cryin’
Longing for the home I left way out in the West
Ill never learn to be a roamer
No matter how I try
And when the next train leaves this town
I’ll tell you all Good-bye

When the sun goes down again
Im going to be where I belong
I’ll be comin around the bend
And in my heart there’ll be a song
It won’t take long to forget
That I ever wanted to roam
And unless I miss my guess
I’ll learn each word of Home Sweet Home
When I hear my old dog beggin
I’ll be at my journey’s end
I can hear the old folks sayin
Welcome home our long lost friend
I’ll throw away my walkin shoes
I never want them on again
I’ll lay my head on a feather bed
When the sun goes down again

A group of jolly cowboys discusing plans at ease
Says one I’ll tell you something boys if you will listen please
I am an old cow puncher and tho here Im dressed in rags
I used to be a tough one and take on great big jogs
But Ive got a home boys a good one you all know
Although I haven’t seen it since very long ago
But Im going back to [Dixie] once more to see them all
I’m going to see my mother when the works all done this fall

After the round ups over after the shippings done
Im going straight home boys ere all my moneys gone
Ive changed my ways boys no more will I fall
And Im going home to mother when the works all done this fall
When I left my home boys my mother for me cried
She begged me not to go boys for me she would have died
Mothers heart is breaking its breaking for me thats all
So Im going to see my mother when the works all done this fall

That very night this cowboy went out to stand his guard
The weather it was strong and raining very hard
The cattle they got frightened and rushed a wild stampede
The cowboy tried to herd them while riding at full speed
While riding in the darkness so loudly he did shout
The saddle horse did stumble and on him did fall
And he’ll not see his mother when the works done this fall

His body was so mangled
The boys all through him dead
They picked him up so gently and laid him on his bed
He opened wide his blue eyes and looking all around
He motioned to his comrads to sit near him on the ground
Boys send my mother my wages the wages I have earned
For Im afraid boys my last star that I have turned
Im going to a new range I hear my masters call
And I’ll not see my mother when the works all done this fall

Joe take my saddle Bill you take my bed
Pete you take my pistol after I am dead
Think of them kindly as you gaze up on them all
And give my love to mother when the works all done next fall
Poor Charlie was burried at sunrise no toombstone at his head
Nothing but a little board and this is what it said
Poor Charlie died at daybreak he died from a fall
And he’ll not see his mother when the works all done this fall

She wrote him this letter all covered with tears
And it is her answer to Twenty One Years

Six months have gone by love the good doctor said
For six weary months Ive been sick in bed
My poor heart it is in agony
The drug store has nothing can help what ails me

They tell me your bitter cause I didnt write
But my brain is all fevered and dark is the night
So you’ll understand why I didn’t write you
The Master in Heaven knew what Ive been through

The judge said stand up said dry up your tears
And sent you to Nashville for twenty One years
As we stood embracing they tore us apart
But they’ll never tear you from out of my heart

They shackled your arms love they shackled your feet
But they never can shackle a love that is sweet
The angels all know love that you’ll always be mine
And I’ll still be waiting though its a long time

I went to the Governor got down on my knees
And said Mr Governor won’t you listen please
I begged for a pardon through heart blinding tears
And all I remember was twenty one years

They sent you to prison behind those iron bars
When I get my strength back I’ll come where you are
I’ll stand by those high walls and shout through my tears
That I will want for you dear for twenty one years

So this is her letter all covered with tears
And it is her answer to twenty one years

The judge was there the jury too
And people from afar
A fair young lad of tender youth
Was prisoner at the bar
The Great courtroom was crammed
With an eager anxious throng
And many a heart was aching
For the boy accused of wrong

A maiden fair with golden hair
Swept swiftly through the crowd
The people gazed in wonder
But spoke not a word aloud
In turning to the judge’s stand
One moment did she puase
And smiling through her tears she said
Judge let me plead the cause

Oh judge let your mind wander back
To those long years gone by
And see your sweetheart and yourself
Just like this lad and I
If you had children of your own
Have mercy I do pray
Remember you’ll break my heart
If you send him far away

Then turning to the jury box
To make her simple plea
This prisoner here is innocent
I know you’ll set him free
Remember you were once a boy
Just like this fair young lad
If you convict him of this charge
You’ll drive him to the bad

Next Sunday is our wedding day
The dream of wonderous life
When at the alter he will make
Me his loving wife
Unless you aim to blight our lives
Don’t say that we must part
And don’t forget your loving wife
Was once your dear Sweetheart

The jury did not leave the room
For they had quick agreed
The foreman briefly signed a note
And gave the cleark to read
Not guilty were the only words
The maiden heard them say
Her lover clasped her in his arms
Love always has its way

The last dance was over the music had ceased
And the dancers were leaving the hall
A few men were saying their last good-byes
To the beautiful belle of the ball
Alone by the window a man sadly stands
His heart she has stolen away
And just as he gazed on her beautiful face
He was startled to hear someone say

She lives in a mansion of aching hearts
She’s one of a restless throng
The diamonds that glitter around her throat
Speak both of sorrow and song
The smile on her face is only a mask
And many the tear that starts
For sadden it seems when of Mother she dreams
In a Mansion of aching hearts

Alone by the fireside a man sadly looks
At a picture that hangs on the wall
He has never fogotten the sad sweet face
of the beatiful belle of the ball
Hes reading fher letter my picture I send
I have loved you but only in vain
Only to forget that we ever have met
Then he thinks with a heart full of pain

What is this?

An Ethnomusicalogial transcription of folk song lyrics from an original 1928 source scribed by Frances Jackson of Wingham, Ontario, Canada. Transcription done by her great grand daughter, a Master of Arts candidate at York University in Toronto - Jacklin Falconer. December 2008.